不同的老人服務範疇也能應用音樂治療，例如復康服務、心理輔導、日間護理及寧養服務等。在香港，雖然音樂治療仍未算十分普及，但一些香港的社區服務機構及老人院也有聘請音樂治療師。在老人院舍，醫院及日間護理的服務對象多為患有腦退化症(dementia)的長者，由於長期住院或喪失自理能力，音樂治療能提供多媒體的感官刺激(multi-sensory stimulation)，從而活化腦部及四肢的機能。音樂治療也能使長期住院的人士減低因與外界少接觸而帶來的迷茫及焦慮感。至於復康服務的對象多為曾中風，或患有柏甘遜症狀(Parkinson Disease)及其他肌能疾病的長者。配合特別設計的音樂活動及選曲，不但能提升患者對復康的意志及活動的動力(motivation)，更有助減慢退化的速度。

 

長者的治療目標

 

綜合以上的說法，最常見的治療目標包括：

• 生命回顧(life review)，重整自我價值及人生觀　(Jenko, Gonzalez & Seymour, 2007)
• 維持短期及長期記憶力　(Wall & Duffy, 2010)
• 維持活動能力(mobility)及協調能力(coordination) (Thaut & McIntosh, 1999)
• 減少因失智症或長期住院而產生的焦慮　(Wall & Duffy, 2010; Jennings & Vance, 2002)
• 提升推動力(motivation)，減輕抑鬱症狀　(Ashida, 2000)
• 提升集中力(concentration)，和對身邊事物的意識(awareness) (Gregory, 2002)
• 改善失眠及精神緊張之症狀 (Cherniack, 2006; Clair, 1996)
• 改善心情，增加社交意欲(social interaction) (Nayak et al, 2000)

<本文由註冊音樂治療師鄧悅天小姐撰寫>

參考文獻：

Ashida, S. (2000). The effect of reminiscence music therapy sessions on changes in depressive symptoms in elderly persons with dementia. Journal of Music Therapy, 38(3), 170-182.

Cherniack, E. P. (2006). The use of alternative medicine for the treatment of insomnia in the elderly. Psychogeriatrics, 6, 21-30.

Clair, A. A. (1996). Therapeutic uses of music with older adults. Sydney: Health Professions Press.

Gregory. D. (2002). Music listening for maintaining attention of older adults with cognitive impairments. Journal of Music Therapy, 39 (4), 244-265.

Jenko, M., Gonzalez, L. & Seymour, M. J. (2007). Life review with the Terminally Ill. Journal of hospice and palliative nursing, 9(3), 159-167.

Jennings, B. & Vance, D. (2002). The Short-Term Effects of Music Therapy on Different Types of Agitation in Adults with Alzheimer’s. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 26 (4), 27-33.

Nayak, S., Wheeler, B. L., Shiflett, S. C. & Agostinelli, S. (2000). Effect of Music Therapy on Mood and Social Interaction Among Individuals With Acute Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke. Rehabilitation Psychology, 45 (3), 274-283.

Thaut, M., & McIntosh, G. (1999). Music therapy in mobility training with the elderly: a review of current research. Care Management Journal 1 (1), 71-74.

Wall, M. & Duffy, A. (2010). The effects of music therapy for older people with dementia. British Journal of Nursing, 19 (2), 108-113.